Gryphon women drop close one to Toronto

GUELPH – The Guelph Gryphons suffered their first loss of 2024 when they were outlasted 3-2 by the Toronto Varsity Blues in a close OUA women’s volleyball match Friday at the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.

Toronto won 25-15, 25-27, 24-26, 25-20, 15-10.

It was the second close match of the year between the two teams at the GGAC as the Gryphs had won 3-2 there Jan. 4.

Friday, Mia Miskovic led the Gryphs with 14 kills, two aces, three blocks and seven digs while Briar Crerar had 11 kills, an ace and 18 digs, Samantha Ingleton had 11 kills and a block, Sophia Kalbfleisch had 10 kills and 14 digs, Alexa Shield had an ace, four blocks, 11 digs and 48 assists, Payton King had seven digs and Maia Dan had an ace and a block. Sarah McNames, Nikina Bear-Lowen and Alexandra Nicholson-Clarke each had an ace and Hailey Holland had a block.

Julia Murmann had 19 kills and 21 digs for Toronto while Olivia Zhu had 18 kills and 12 digs and Natalia Souza had 15 kills, three blocks and three aces. Anna Gadomski had five blocks and three aces while Thea Ziesmann had four blocks, Anna Arellano had 59 assists and Delaney Watson had 26 digs.

The Gryphs had 58 kills, eight aces, six blocks, 53 assists, 80 digs and a .130 kill percentage while Toronto had 64 kills, nine aces, 12 blocks, 61 assists, 88 digs and a .264 kill percentage.

Guelph falls to 9-3 with the loss while Toronto improves to 7-6.

Brock Badgers and McMaster Marauders are tied atop the standings with 12-1 records. They’re followed by the Queen’s Gaels at 9-2, Gryphs at 9-3, Waterloo Warriors at 8-4, Toronto Metropolitan Bold at 7-4, Toronto at 7-6, Western Mustangs at 6-4, Nipissing Lakers at 4-7, Lakehead Thunderwolves at 3-8, Windsor Lancers at 2-9, Trent Excalibur at 1-10, York Lions at 1-11 and RMC Paladins at 0-11.

The Gryphs are to host Windsor in a pair of games next week at the GGAC. They’re to play Friday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m.

• Guelph Sports Journal